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3 weeks so far using TIM Tourist plan in Italy. 100gb data. ~$30

Posted by (San Diego) on

I had read about it but could not find a way to buy the eSIM online. I read a few posts saying TIM was horrible. It has been very good for us over the last three weeks. Only using it to supplement my Verizon data, which doesn't include much.

I had to go to a TIM store, they are all franchisee, so YMMV. It was late in the day when I had time to go and ended up in Roma Termini, not a great place at night. First TIM store I found in the train station didn't sell eSIMs, after a bit they finally told me the TIM store downstairs sold them. Went downstairs and once I found the store they did sell them! The gal behind the counter set it up on my phone to be my cellular data in use. It was around 24 Euros, and with the Rump tariffs in full swing hammering the exchange rate we paid the amount in the subject line in dollars. (thanks Rump)

Been using it three weeks so far. Rome, Naples, Florence, Cinque Terre and now Genoa. No complaints. Have had 2-3 bars pretty much everywhere.

We will be out of Italy by the end of next week.

The only issues I have is with the phone App. There is NO English version.(Really, the plan is called TIM Tourist) So you keep getting notified in Italian about, who knows what...

If I traveled again to Italy, I would buy this eSIM again, lots of data. (my iPhone only takes eSIMs)

I was glad I kept my Verizon plan, but just switched it to their international plan, which only came with 10 gb of data, but having the phone working to get texts from my banks and other places for 2FA was critical to being able to get things done on our long trip abroad.

-Bill

Posted by
29264 posts

Wow, that is cheap. I knew the approximately $3 I've been paying per GB for Airalo eSIMs was more than I'd pay with a direct purchase from a local telecom, but I had no idea the gap was so wide. Google Fi charges me $10 per GB (until it cuts me off at 85-87 days out of country), so even $3 per GB is a substantial savings.

Posted by
1 posts

As I understand it, the TIM Tourist eSIM in Italy allows me to use voice over cellular, data over cellular, and text over cellular as well. Is that correct? In other words, I don't need WiFi for voice calls, data, or text, right? And WiFi still functions without using TIM data, as long as there is WiFi coverage. I will be on a RS Best of Italy trip in early September and would like to be covered even if there is no local WiFi. The TIM Tourist plan seems like a good way to go. Please let me know if am misunderstanding it.

Posted by
16821 posts

There is also other plans available for foreign born (designed for immigrants to Italy) which you can have, I had two (in my wife’s name) with Vodafone for even less. 300Gb included plus international calls. Inquire at stores when you go.

Posted by
228 posts

I use Airalo and paid $49 for 100gb while visiting Greek islands and northern Italy in the mountains with my almost ten year old iPhone Xr. We have T-Mobile at home but I hate their international plan. I got the data and call plan so was able to call without charge even over data. Had no issues downloading it while at Boston Logan before our direct flight. In fact I was still using it for about 10 after returning from our vacation because of the time I had left on it and even after that month I STILL had only used 20gg of data.

Posted by
3873 posts

I’ve used TIM regular simcards in Italy for each trip for years with wonderful service.
The only time it did not work was in Sicily.
I ended up going back to the shop and exchanging it for one from VodaFone which then worked very well there.
My phone is too old for esims and I like to be able to phone home if need be, which I did when I needed to speak to my travel insurance provider on one trip.

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